What happens when an appellate court sends a case back to the lower courts. When an appellate court finds an issue with the decision of a lower court, the appellate court may send the case back to the lower courts with instructions to consider or not consider certain evidence, or with instructions to make a decision consistent with the appellate court’s findings. When a case is remanded, it isn’t the end of the matter. The lower court must adjudicate the case according to the instructions or orders of the higher court. The matter is resolved once a final ruling has been issued that is either not appealed nor granted an appeal.